City Nature Challenge 2025

City Nature Challenge is an opportunity for the community to record wildlife and animal observations across their local council.

Participants record their observations across a four-day period, from 25 – 28 April 2025 by taking pictures of wild plants and animals using the app, iNaturalist.

Observations will automatically be pooled within Monash and across the country so that we can compete with participants from other councils and cities all over the world.

Observations from Australia’s database of plants and animals is helping scientists with their research to improve outcomes for our environment.

Get involved

Valley Conservation Reserve

Scotchman’s Creek Trail – Walk and Working Bee

(Meet at the amenities block, entry from Waimarie Drive, Mount Waverley)

Saturday 26 April 2025
2.30pm - 4pm
FREE ticketed event

To kick things off, we have planned a nature walk along Scotchman’s Creek Trail to help our community get involved in this year’s challenge.

Get along and together help explore the local environment and record your wildlife observations into iNaturalist.

Following the nature walk, join the Friends of Group’s working bee, where we can all help contribute to the conservation of the reserve before enjoying a morning tea.

We advise wearing walking shoes, a hat and a coat depending on the weather. No gardening equipment is required but you may want to bring gardening gloves for the working bee.

iNaturalist

Participants should download the iNaturalist app on their phone or make an account on their computer. Observations can be recorded on the app between 25-28 April 2025.

For more information and a How to guide visit A Community for Naturalists · iNaturalist Australia

How to use the iNaturalist App

A webinar taking you through the basics of how to use iNaturalist App was recorded for the City Nature Challenge in 2021. You can watch this at any time.